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The United Nations mission in Libya strongly condemned the violence which took place in the capital, Tripoli, on Friday that led to the loss of civilian lives and called for maximum restraint and an end to bloodshed in the country.

Dozens of people were reportedly killed and several hundred wounded in yesterday's clashes between militias and protesters - the latest violence to hit the North African nation, which has been facing worsening security in recent months.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for an immediate end to the violence and for supporting the efforts by the authorities to restore calm, stop the bloodshed and ensure security and stability for all Libyans.

"The Mission urges Libyans to exercise maximum restraint and resort to peaceful means to resolve their differences," it said in a statement.

"The Mission affirms the right to peaceful protest and the right of people to express their views freely, stressing that attacks against civilians and endangering their lives are acts that are totally rejected."

It also reiterated the need for concerted efforts by all "at this delicate stage of the democratic transition" to create a conducive environment in order to focus on the priorities of state-building which will ensure sustainable security and peace for all Libyans.

UNSMIL has been supporting the efforts of the Libyan Government and people to ensure the success of the democratic transition process, which has been under way since the toppling of Muammar al-Qadhafi two years ago.